The aquarium hobby is full of technical jargon, confusing acronyms and scientific mumbo jumbo. We decided to start the Talk the Talk video series to help you avoid stumbling over these not-so-common aquarium terms.
- Polyp: Tube shaped part of a coral with a mouth that is surrounded by tentacles. Most corals consist of many polyps living in a group.
- Corallite: The part of a coral skeleton that is formed by an individual polyp in a colony. Typically cup shaped.
- SPS Corals: Abbreviation for Small Polyp Stony coral. They have multiple small polyps and a rigid skeleton.
- LPS Corals: Abbreviation for Large Polyp Stony coral. They have multiple large polyps and a rigid skeleton.
- Calcareous: Mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate. Examples: Coralline Algae and Halimeda.
- Soft Corals: Corals that do not produce a rigid calcareous skeleton. AKA "Softies"
- Allelopathy: The inhibition of growth of aquatic animals by means of chemical warfare.
- Corallimorphs: Coral-like animals from the order Zoantharia, commonly called Mushrooms, Anemones or False Corals.
- Fragmentation: The process of artificial reproduction of corals by breaking, cutting or dividing pieces from the main colony and attaching them to a new base. Also known as fragging.